Fault reporting system for a motor vehicle

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a defect reporting system for a vehicle having at least one electronic control unit and a check-control module which is connected with the at least one control unit and receives a report from the latter, as well as an indicating device which is connected with the check-control module and by way of which at least one information can be indicated as a function of the transmitted report.  
     For expanding the variability of such a defect reporting system, it is suggested to construct the at least one control unit such that it can independently evaluate reporting conditions and, in the event of the presence of conditions, can emit a corresponding report to the check-control module; to provide a table in which the at least one information is filed for each report; and to connect the check-control module with the table, the at least one information assigned to the report being read out and being shown by way of the indicating device.

[0001] The invention relates to a defect reporting system for a vehicleaccording to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] Conventionally, faulty functions in the vehicle are in each caseindicated by a certain symbol in a display. In order to be able toimplement this function, a central check-control module is alreadyprovided in a number of today's vehicles, which check-control module isconnected with different electrical control units by way of a data bus.In some cases, several so-called bus identifiers are assigned to eachcontrol unit, status bits being transmitted in these messages. Thestatus bits transmitted from the control units to the check-controlmodule are evaluated there and, if necessary, are linked with additionaldata. When certain conditions are present, a defect report is emitted byway of the indicating device in the vehicle, for example, by way of theinstrument cluster.

[0003] The low flexibility of this system is a disadvantage because thecheck-control module has to know all status telegrams. Furthermore, theconditions under which defect reports should be indicated also have tobe filed in the check-control module. For this reason, changes in theregion of the control units always also cause changes in thecheck-control module itself. In addition, in the case of a communicationby way of a data bus, in some cases, several bus identifiers arerequired for the different control units, which increases the complexityof the overall system. In this respect, the required computing speed inthe case of the check-control module rises proportionally with thenumber of required reports. In addition, the number of available busidentifiers in the bus systems is limited so that, when a plurality ofcomplex electrical control units are used, a limit is reached withrespect to the reports which can be indicated.

[0004] Furthermore, so far, usually only illuminated symbols have beenshown in an indicating device for indicating a defect. In the case ofinfrequently flashing symbols, a driver must then usually consult theoperating instructions because he often does not know the meaning of thesymbol alone, that is, without any explanation.

[0005] It is an object of the present invention to provide a flexibledefect reporting system for a vehicle by means of which the number ofreports which will rise in future vehicles can also be covered.

[0006] This object is achieved by means of the characteristics indicatedin claim 1.

[0007] Accordingly, in the case of a defect reporting system of theinitially mentioned type, control units are used which are constructedfor independently evaluating reporting conditions and for issuing acorresponding report to a check-control module when defined conditionsexist. Thus, in contrast to a conventional system, not just status bitsare transmitted to the check-control module which describe only thestatus and various vehicle operating conditions. On the contrary, thecontrol unit independently evaluates the reports submitted to it and, ifdefined conditions are present, which must therefore be available to therespective control unit, formulates a corresponding report to thecheck-control module.

[0008] Furthermore, a table is provided to which the check-controlmodule has access and in which, for each report from a control unit, atleast one information is filed which then has to be shown by way of theindicating device. The check-control module reads the informationassigned to the transmitted report from the table and shows this tableby means of the indicating device. A combination indicating device maybe used as the indicating device which preferably also comprises adisplay. Different symbols and text information can be shown in thedisplay. In addition, it is also possible to control different indicatorlights in the combination indicating device, depending on the defect.

[0009] As a result of the checking of the reporting conditions in thecontrol units themselves, when the data are transmitted by way of a databus, it is not necessary to use several bus identifiers. Bus identifiersare essentially data which describe the type of information just beingtransmitted by way of the data bus. In the case of the presentinvention, it would, for example, be possible to transmit all defects ina certain data format. For that purpose, only one bus identifier wouldthen be required. As soon as a report with the bus identifier selectedfor the defect report is present on the bus, the check-control modulewill know that this report contains a defect information and has to beprocessed. Naturally, several bus identifiers for different groups ofreports may also be selected.

[0010] The respective data formats then each contain one defect reportpart which comprises a statement which corresponds to the defectdetected by a control unit on the basis of the presence of certainconditions.

[0011] The report from a control unit therefore preferably comprises thebus identifier as well as a report information. This approach ensuresthe use of the defect reporting system according to the invention alsowhen a plurality of electronic control units are operated which arepartly highly complex.

[0012] By using a table, in which essentially an assignment of reportsoriginating from a control unit and assigned information is present, itcan be avoided to then have to exchange the check-control module or tohave to reprogram it with respect to its method of operation when thecontrol units or the defect telegrams in the control units are changed.On the contrary, it is sufficient to exchange the information filed inthe table (for example, by flash programming) and to correspondinglyadapt this information when the system is changed.

[0013] Such an adaptation can take place in a simple manner in that thetable is first prepared by means of a data bank. From this data bank, asource language data file and therefrom a machine-readable data file canbe formed which is programmed into a memory containing the table.

[0014] In this case, a separate memory can be used for the table. Whenthe table then has to be changed, a new table only has to be read intothe memory.

[0015] As an alternative, the program part, which is provided for theoperation of the check-control module, and the data part, which containsthe information of the table, may also be constructed in an integratedmanner. In this case, the two program parts should be prepared jointlyand be newly read into the memory.

[0016] The memory may be constructed as a part of the check-controlmodule itself. As an alternative, the check-control module and thememory may be jointly integrated in an instrument cluster. Naturally,alternatives are conceivable.

[0017] For each report, the table can keep on file a plurality ofinformation in the form of texts, graphic information, indicator lightactivations and/or other reporting action.

[0018] By means of the defect reporting system according to theinvention, particularly the self-evaluating control units as well as theseparately filed table, on the whole, an extremely high variability ofthe system is created.

[0019] An embodiment of the following invention will be explained belowand with reference to the attached drawings.

[0020]FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a defect reporting systemaccording to the present invention; and

[0021]FIG. 2 is a view of an indicating device by means of whichpertaining information is illustrated as a result of a report from acontrol unit.

[0022] In the schematic block diagram of FIG. 1, five control units 10to 14 are indicated which each comprise a unit 9 for analyzing reportingconditions. These units 9 obtain the respective status from the controlunits 10 to 14 and examine the entirety of the respective availableinformation by means of the conditions filed for each control unit.Naturally, for judging whether these conditions have been met, otherfactors may be entered which are fed from outside the control unit.

[0023] When a reporting condition in a control unit 10 to 14 has beenmet, this control unit 10 to 14 emits a corresponding report by way of adata bus 21 to a check-control module 15, which is part of an instrumentcluster 23. The instrument cluster 23 is installed in a vehicle which isnot shown in detail. The report contains a bus identifier whichindicates that the current report is a defect report, and a data portionin which the defect report is contained.

[0024] The check-control module recognizes the defect report from thecontrol unit on the basis of the bus identifier and transmits the defectreport contained in the data portion to a memory in which a table isfiled. Furthermore, reference number 19 is used for the memory as wellas for the table. The table 19 contains information pertaining to eachdefect report from any control unit 10 to 14. This information maycomprise text data, assigned graphic symbols, activations of indicatorlights or even reporting action. The table 19 may receive a new designat any time and may then again be read into the memory. This structureis therefore selected to be very open because new information can befiled, supplemented, changed, etc. for each defect report. New defectreports can also easily be added.

[0025] The information assigned to a respective report is transmittedback to the check-control module 15 which causes the emission of theinformation to an indicating device 17. In this case, lights may thenflash at the indicating device 17 or an output by way of a display maytake place. Symbols or text information can also be displayed in thedisplay.

[0026] An indicating device used in the present embodiment isillustrated in FIG. 2. On the one hand, it comprises an essentiallyconventional combination indicating device 50 into which a small display52 is integrated. In the display 52, symbols and short information canbe displayed which corresponds to the information read out of the table.On the other hand, another video screen 53 is provided which, inaddition to a symbol, may show additional text information 54. The dataon this additional video screen can be retrieved.

[0027] In the event of particularly serious defects, the dataautomatically appear on the additional video screen 53.

[0028] In this manner, the driver's attention can first be drawn to thepresence of a defect by an indication in the combination indicatingdevice 50. The defect will then be explained in greater detail on thevideo screen 53 which is, for example, arranged in the dashboard.

[0029] As mentioned above, the table can be prepared in an excellentmanner by means of a data bank in which the pertaining report texts,reporting actions or graphic symbols are assigned to each defect report.

[0030] After the preparation of such a data bank 30, for example, on aPC, a machine-readable code 32 can be generated which can be read intothe memory 19.

[0031] Likewise, a source data file 34 can be generated which is thenlinked in a separate unit 36 with the program portion for controllingthe check-control module and together in this program unit is playedinto the memory 19 of the instrument cluster 23 (for example, flashprogramming by way of the diagnostic interface).

[0032] A manual input 31 is required for preparing the data bank 30.

[0033] By means of the present invention, all active check-controlreports can be indicated by way of a monitor. With respect to eachcheck-control report, a supplementary instruction for action can also bedisplayed. Particularly in the case of high-priority check-controlreports, the supplementary instructions for action can automatically befaded in.

[0034] Since the check-control module has to know neither the defectreports nor the information to be indicated, it can be kept very simpleand general. It can therefore be used in various vehicle types. Theadaptation to the different vehicle types takes place only by a changeor by an exchange of the table.

[0035] The defect reporting system according to the invention canprocess a large number of check-control reports and, in the process, ishighly scalable. Once a check-control algorithm is programmed, it can beused unchanged in various vehicle types because the adaptation to newvehicle types takes place by an expansion or exchange of the table. Inparticular, it is also possible to subsequently install control units inan automobile without having to change the program code of thecheck-control module because the table only has to be expanded byseveral inputs.

1. Defect reporting system for a vehicle having at least one electroniccontrol unit (10 to 14) and a check-control module (15) which isconnected with the at least one control unit (10 to 14) and receives areport from the latter, as well as an indicating device (17) which isconnected with the check-control module (15) and by way of which atleast one information can be indicated as a function of the transmittedreport, characterized in that the at least one control unit (10 to 14)is constructed for independently evaluating reporting conditions and, inthe event of the presence of conditions, for emitting a correspondingreport to the check-control module (15, in that a table (19) is providedin which the at least one information is filed for each report, and inthat the check-control module (15) is connected with the table (19)which reads the at least one information assigned to the report out ofthe table and shows it by way of the indicating device (17).
 2. Defectreporting system according to claim 1, characterized in that the reportsare present in a defined data format.
 3. Defect reporting systemaccording to claim 2, characterized in that each data format contains adata format identifier and a report information.
 4. Defect reportingsystem according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in thatthe table (19) has filed texts, graphic information, control lightactivations and/or reporting action for each report.
 5. Defect reportingsystem according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that amemory is provided in which the table (19) is filed in amachine-readable form.
 6. Defect reporting system according to claim 5,characterized in that the table (19) can be read into the memory. 7.Defect reporting system according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterizedin that a memory is provided in which the table (19) and a programcontrolling the check-control module (15) are jointly filed.
 8. Defectreporting system according to claim 7, characterized in that the table(19) and the program can jointly be read into the memory.
 9. Defectreporting system according to one of claims 5 to 8, characterized inthat the memory is integrated in the check-control module.
 10. Defectreporting system according to one of claims 5 to 8, characterized inthat the memory as well as the check-control module (15) are integratedin an instrument cluster (23).
 11. Defect reporting system according toone of the preceding claims, characterized in that the table (19) isprepared by means of a data bank (30).